Brother develop mobile thermal printer for iPad and iPhone

29 October 2012

Brother Mobile Solutions has developed a wireless thermal printer that is compatible with iPhones and iPads.

The PocketJet 673 mobile printer is only compatible with Apple's mobile devices (which is quite unusual for the industry) and it utilizes an ad-hoc Wi-Fi connection between the iOS device and the printer to produce 8.5 x 11 inch documents.

Ravi Panjwani, vice president of marketing and product management for Brother Mobile Solutions, commented: "As the popularity and demand of the iPhone and iPad grow beyond the consumer spectrum and into the enterprise world, companies are finding increasingly innovative ways to integrate iOS devices into their field operations.

"It [the PocketJet 673] helps eliminate the time and costs associated with printing from a fixed location and gives Apple iOS users an operational efficiency they didn't have previously."

Users of this printer are able to produce full-page letter, legal, A4 and continuous page printing which means more customised information with larger fonts and graphics.

Capable of producing up to six pages per minute, this printer is not only fast but also sleek, lightweight and durable.

Due to the fact that this is a thermal printer, there are no additional ink costs, which make it ideal for small businesses looking to keep costs low.

It also means that the printer is ideal for travel as there is no mess and it can be stored remarkably easily.

Thermal printers have very low maintenance costs due to highly reliable direct thermal technology that uses fewer moving parts than other printing technologies.

Users have access to a variety of media options including printing on thermal cut sheet, continuous roll, and perforated roll.

"We believe the custom features and ease of use associated with the PocketJet 673 will convince enterprises already familiar with the reliability and functionality of the PocketJet brand to more confidently expand into the iOS world," added Mr Panjwani.